Roller device for moving loads



July 7, 1953 H. R. Pol-ILE 2,644,691

ROLLER DEVICE EoR Monuc: LoAns Filed April 24. 1951 Patented July 7,1953 lUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Herman R. Pohle, New York, N. Y.

Application April Z4, 1951, Serial No. 222,618

1 Claim. (Cl. 280--1') This invention relates to a roller device, andmore particularly to a roller device for facilitating the movement ofmachines, cases, or other loads or objects from one place to another.

An object of the invention is to provide a roller device which isadapted to be positioned beneath an object to be moved, such asa'machine or case loaded with goods, or an article of furniture, wherebythe object can be readily moved to a desired location, the device of thepresent invention including a plurality of spaced parallel rollers whichare adapted to engage a floor or other surface to thereby minimizefrictional resistance to movement of the object.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller device which willenable heavy loads to be moved with ease, safety, and with a greatsaving of labor and time, the load to be moved being adapted to besupported by one or more of the roller devices of the present invention.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a roller devicewhich Will eliminate the necessity of permanently afxing rollers to theundersurface of a load, the roller` device being constructed so that apositive sliding motion of the load can be accomplished, even overirregular floor surfaces.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roller device or`carriage for use in move ing loads from one place to another, theroller device of the present invention being constructed so that theWeight or pressure of the load is taken by a rolling action through themedium of an endless roller track, the roller device of the presentinvention being small infsize but ruggedly constructed so that a heavyload can be supported thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide a roller device which isextremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View showing a load movably supported by aplurality of the roller devices of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the roller device of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the angle ironseated in one of the slots.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates the rollerdevice of the present invention. The roller device may be fabricated ofany suitable material, such as metal, and the roller device ID includesa pair of barsv II which are arranged in spaced parallel relation withrespect to each other.

Each of the bars II has the same formation,

and each bar II includes a plurality of spaced pointed teeth I4 whichare arranged along the upper surface of the bar I I. It will be seenfrom the drawing, that the upper pointed ends of the teeth I extendabove the upper surface of the Vbars II so that these teeth can engagethe lower surface of an object to be moved, such as a lathe. crate, orother device.

Arranged contiguous to each end of the bars II is a slot or cutout I5.It is to be noted that lthe slots I5 in one of the bars I I are arrangedin alignment with the slots I5 in the other bar II. These slots I5 areadapted to receive therein a portion of an angle iron I2 which may belsecured to the undersurface of the object to be shifted `or moved. Thus,the angle iron I2 by being seated in the slots I5 will insure that thelroller devices I do not accidentally slip out of place from beneath theobject being moved. The upper portion of each of the slots I5 isenlarged or flared outwardly as at I3 to facilitate the seating of theangle iron I2 in thel slots.

Extending between the pair of bars Il and secured thereto is a plate I6which has its ends rounded, Fig. 3. The plate I6 is arranged at'rightangles' with respect to the 'bars II. Interposed between the pair ofbars II and extending around the plate I6 is an endless roller trackwhich comprises a plurality of spaced parallel rollers or journals Ilwhich have a cylindrical shape. Each of the rollers I'I is hollow or isprovided with a longitudinally extending bore 22. A shaft 23 rotatablyextends through each of the bores 22, and a trunnion or pin I8 ofreduced diameter projects from each end of the shaft 23. Links I9 extendbetween the trunnions I8, and the links I9 are each provided withopenings 24 which rotatably or pivotally receive therein the trunnionsI8. The outer ends of the trunnions I8 are flattened or provided with anenlarged head 25 so that the links I9 will be maintained in their properplace on the trunnions I8. It is to be noted that the shafts 23 areslightly longer than the rollers I 'I so that the links will bemaintained out of contact with the rollers I 1, whereby there will be nointerference with movement of these parts. Thus, during movement of themachine,

crate or other object, the rollers I1 will engage the floor, ground, orother surface, to facilitate movement of the load. It is to be notedthat the rollers I7, links I9, shafts 23, and trunnions I8 constitute anendless track for engaging the ground or iioor.

The ends of each of the bars II, adjacent the lower surface thereof, areshaped arcuately or are rounded, as indicated by the numeral 20, so thatthe movement of the load Y,will not be interfered with by irregularsurfaces or protruding articles.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, a plurality of the roller devices IUmay be usedpfor `supporting a load, such as a lathe, the vloadfbeingindicated by the letter L and a. portion thereof being shown in thedrawing.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that arol'ler device has beenprovided which will eliminate the necessity of afxing rollerspermanently to the undersurface of furniture, machinery or other objectsto be `moved. f lhe'roller devices are especially suitable for usefactories, or other `buildings, and the endless tra-ck will support the'load by a rolling action. 1t vis to be noted that the rollers I1 extendbelow the Vlower surface lof the bars I I, Figs. A1, 3 and 4, so thatwhen these rollers are' in their lowermost position, they will engagethe floor, ground or other surface.

By means ofthe roller devices of the present invent-ion, frictionalresistance will be decreased, and heavy loads canY be moved with easeand safety, and also aigreaft saving of 4labor and time will beeffected. Further, positive sliding motion of the load will be insuredeven over irregular floor surfaces, and there will be no risk ofacciden-ts, the roller devices being sturdily constructed andinexpensive and simple to manufacture.

The roller devices can be used either under the corners of a load orthel roller devices can be spaced in any desired position. Further, ifdesired, an entire load may be partially supported on one of the rollerdevices. Also, the size o f the roller devices can be varied, asdesired.

When the relier devices of the present invention are being used, one ormore of the carriages or devices, of the present invention are merelyPiih'odiiiio Position beneath. the object to bfe moved and, .ifnecessary'. the oarriages lil can be interonnected by means of the angleiron I2 which can extend into the slots I5, the angle iron I2 adapted tobe seured to the bottom of the load, as by welding. When the carriagesare movingV in a straight line or path, it is not necessary to adjustthe position of the carriages, and when movement along a curved path isdesired, the carriages can be .readily displaced 'with a 4 minimum ofeffort. Further, once a slight effort has been made to set the load intomotion, the initial momentum will allow the load to be moved with aminimum of eifort. The carriages of the present invention can beutilized to move machines, or machine components, cases, furniture, orcan be used in forwarding businesses and for loading trucks.

It is to be further noted that the rollers I'I, whenfintheir lcwermostposition, extendibelow the bottomof the bars II so :that the :rollersengage the floor, ground, or other surface. Thus, the entire weight orpressure of the load will be exertedrthrough the `lowermost rollers andonto the plate I'6. This-Willresult in the entire load pressurebeingtaken by the plate I6 by a rolling action through the medium of theendless roller track.V Y

What is claimed is:

.A roller device including a pair of bars arranged in spaced parallelrelationiwithV respt to eachother, there being aligned slots arranged insaid bars for receiving anangle iron adapted to'be attached to-the'bottomV of Yaload to be moved. the ,upper portion .of said slotsbeing flared vout wardly,` a ,plate 'extending between said bars andsecured thereto, an endless roller track `trained over said plate andinterposed between said bars,

said track comprising a plurality of cylindrical rollers arranged inspaced parallel relation with respect to each other, there being alongitudinally extending vbore extending through each of said rollers, aShaft rotatably positioned in each .of said bores, a trunnion projectingfrom each end of Said shaft, and .links extending Abetween .saidiiun'ni'ons ,and -rivofi'lly .connected thereto.. portions of Saidrollers extending below said bars when the rollers are in theirlowermost position.. whereby the rollers engage. surface .to cause theload pressure to be exerted against .said plate.

R. POHLE.

References Cited in the ll'ie of this patentv

